10 Things We Learned in the Premier League

By: Daryl | August 25th, 2008

1. Chelsea are serious about winning the Premier League
Beating Portsmouth 4-0 at home with a swagger is one thing. But titles are won by going away to Wigan and winning 1-0, without even playing particularly well. Which is exactly what Big Phil’s men did yesterday, courtesy of a 4th minute Deco free kick.

2. Referees are getting younger
Stuart Attwell, who refereed Blackburn vs Hull this weekend, is just 25 years old. That makes him the
youngest ever whistle-man in the Prem.

3. Ricardo Fuller has been watching the Olympics
What else could inspire this sublime goal Fuller scored for Stoke this weekend. The Stoke striker looked like his Jamaican compatriot Usain Bolt + skills as he burned the Villa defence to score this goal:

4. Roque Santa Cruz going nowhere
Because we all know that when a player signs a new four year deal, there’s no way he’s leaving until that contract runs his course. What? Oh.

5. Daniel Sturridge for England
I don’t care how young or inexperiences he is. Sturridge already looks twice as dangerous as Emile Heskey or Jermain Defoe and his celebration dance (first vid) beats Peter’s robo-Crouch any day.

6. Newcastle owe Bolton another penalty
Shay Given saved Kevin Nolan’s spot kick, but since Steven Taylor handballed not once but twice in the space of five seconds to give the pen away, maybe Nolan should have been given a second chance from the spot.

7. Shevchenko at Chelsea was officially a disaster
There was always the outside chance Chelsea’s Ukrainian would come good and redeem himself, but now Sheva’s rumoured move to Milan is officially official, we can confirm the striker’s two years at Chelsea as a waste of everyone’s time. And Sheva’s not out of the fire yet either. Now he has to prove himself all over again at Milan.

8. It doesn’t matter where you finish in the Championship
Two games in and Hull are unbeaten. They’ve won one drawn one. Even Stoke have won one. Against all expectations, the team that most people thought were best equipped for the Premier League - Championship champions West Brom - are the only promoted team with two defeats.

9. Portsmouth have an excuse, Spurs don’t
Portsmouth are bottom of the Prem having scored none and conceded five. But at least they can say they’ve played Chelsea and Man Utd. After all the pre-season excitement, Spurs have faced Middlesbrough and Sunderland and lost both games.

10. If it’s the last minute, you want Stevie Gerrard on the ball
The man is just ridiculously good at scoring late goals.